Obituary for Major Beverly Randolph Mason, Fairfax, Virginia, 1910 ==================================================================== USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Project Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Judy Penrod Purcell ==================================================================== August 2001 Obituary from CONFEDERATE VETERAN, Vol. XVIII, No. 10, August 1910 Obituary: MAJ. B. R. MASON By the death on Friday, April 22, 1910, of Mr. Beverley Randolph Mason, Principal of Gunston Hall School, Washington D.C., the national capital has lost one of its most competent and successful educators and St. Margaret's parish one of its most useful members and vestrymen. Mr. Mason was the great-grandson of George Mason, author of the Virginia "Bill of Rights," and was born in Fairfax County, Va., in 1834. In the Civil War Mr. Mason did a good soldier's part in his native State; and as a civilian since those soul-trying days he has done a work which entitles him to the "well done" of honor from his fellow-citizens. It would be difficult to conceive Mr. Mason in any other light than that of a whole-souled" Confederate. At the first bugle note he volunteered in the celebrated Black Horse Cavalry of Fauquier County, Va., as a private of the ranks. His energy, his broad views, his fine manners, and his business qualities made his recognition easy, and he was detailed to act as commissary sergeant. Mr. Mason's knowledge of men made him acceptable. He was a volunteer and a gentleman of the old school who could aproach all classes; he was ready for any duty and always in a pleasant way. His brave spirit often chafed when his comrades were reported killed or wounded; but his office was the "mainspring," and he was most efficient in supplying food to the command. He won a captain's commission in the 4th Virginia Regiment, and later a major's rank as assistant commissary in Fitz Lee's division, where he was universally beloved and respected. In that capacity he served with great distinction. Occassionaly he secured opportunity to go to the front, which was a source of gratification to him, and his courage as a soldier made his friends often suggest to him that "descretion was the better part of valor." He never let an opportunity pass to go to the front. He told me: "Of course I will serve in any capacity, but my desire is to be in a more active field." And he gave up a position greatly sought by others because it was not on the fighting line. He was a gentleman, and he could not be a gentleman without being a Christian; they are synonymous. what was born in him could not be taken from him. At the close of the war Major Mason engaged in business, and as soon as opportunity offered he took up the work of teaching. For a time he was an instructor in a military academy on the Hudson. later on he returned to Virginia, where in 1875 he married Miss Bettie Nelson, of Albemarle County. After a few years Mr. and Mrs. Mason removed to Washington, where they engaged in the important work of teaching, founding the school known as Gunston Hall from the name of the Old Mason homestead on the Potomac. In this school of young ladies Mr. Mason's character impressed itself upon all who were under his care, and his influence is widely felt and acknowledged by the students of successive years. A student of ten years ago writes: "I am reaping every day the benefits of the happy years spent in your home. Mr. Mason once told me that it seemed hopeless sometimes to be always sowing good seed and to see the harvest so seldom. 'For now we see through a glass darkly, but then fact to face.'" Mr. Mason's funeral, which took place Sunday afternoon, April 24, at St. Margaret's Church, was largely attended by his friends and pupils. He was buried at Ivy Hill Cemetery, near Alexandria, Va., and in honor of their eminent comrade the Robert E. Lee Camp of Confederate Veterans of Alexandria in uniform attended his burial. The Rev. Herbert Scott Smith and the Rev. Samuel A. Wallis conducted the services. >From a sketch by Gen. T. T. Munford, of Lynchburg.